San Fernando Mobility Hub
San José, CA
Design Consulting for:
San José Department of Transportation &
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
The Solar Mobility Hub design for San Fernando Street was commissioned through the City of San José Department of Transportation as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Regional Mobility Hub Program. Located between 6th and 7th Streets adjacent to San José State University, the project examines how solar-powered mobility infrastructure can support both transportation and everyday public life.
The proposal centers on a compact, off-grid solar structure designed to power essential mobility hub functions within the public right-of-way, including e-bike charging, pedestrian-scale lighting, USB charging, and real-time transit information. The design also incorporates shaded seating, wayfinding, and parklet elements that support multimodal transit users and strengthen connections between different modes of transportation.
Positioned alongside a bus boarding island and connected to bike share and scooter share services, the hub brings together multiple transportation modes within a small urban footprint. Developed as a pilot project, the Solar Mobility Hub investigates how off-grid solar infrastructure can support mobility services and public amenities without requiring new utility connections, reducing both costs and implementation timelines.
The project emerged through a collaborative design process involving public works staff, transit operators, underground utility teams, neighborhood stakeholders, and city agencies whose input informed the hub's location, programming, and integration into the surrounding streetscape.